Reduction in the Science Time Available in Semester 2002A

Reduction in the Science Time Available in Semester 2002A

At its November 2001 meeting in Pasadena, the Gemini Board reduced the
science time fraction on Gemini North from 50% (advertised in the 2002A Call
for Proposals) to 40%, and on Gemini South from 40% (advertised in the 2002A Call for Proposals) to 30%. The aim of this decision by the Gemini
Board was to insure that both Gemini Telescopes get adequate
time for telescope and facility instrument commissioning tasks, and that
the amount of science time expected by both telescopes be closer to
what the Gemini Observatory is able to produce while ramping up towards
regular science operation. The impact of this decision has been to reduce the
number of hours available and to increase the oversubscription
significantly.

This action was taken after many of the National Time Allocation Committees
had met. The revised nominal allocations were included in their considerations by the ITAC at its meeting
on 11 December and are shown in the table below. The results of the ITAC meeting
will be available on the schedules
pages after 21 December.